where to shoot a charging bear

The class is in two parts, one covering protection using a handgun and the other using a long gun such as a rifle or shotgun. For the .44 Magnum, the generally recommended load is a hard-cast lead flat nose bullet weighing about 300 grains and driven at about 1,300 feet per second. The animal … WARNING: Some viewers may find the video in this story disturbing . Gunsite Academy, located near Prescott, Arizona, has been in operation for more than 40 years. Shoot some targets with your bear stopping loads at 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards to get a firm picture of brain punching accuracy. Then came square-range drills, where fundamentals like drawing and shooting under time constraints were practiced at targets from 3 to 15 yards. The best bet to immediately stop an attacking bear is to turn off its central nervous system, which requires a brain shot or a shot which severs the spinal cord. And then realize that you probably won't start shooting until 20 yards. Bears are soft skinned and the rib bones are fairly light. However, even if the heart or lungs are destroyed, the bear may still have enough oxygen and blood in its system to carry out the attack and kill the victim. Casey Anderson prepares to halt a charging grizzly with bear spray Anderson, by this time, had his canister out, safety off, and calmly followed the sow’s progress. Updated: October 23, 2019. Do not shoot too low. In a typical attack, the victim may have as little as .5 to 1.5 seconds to react. The student must be very familiar with his firearm, and the gun and ammunition must be up to the task. A 300-grain flat-nosed lead bullet is considered by many to be one of the best for stopping charging bears. It's a topic that interests many people, even if they never set foot in bear country. These tough, hardy animals are not easy to stop when engaged in an attack. There is at least one place the average person can go to get the knowledge and training necessary to increase the chance of stopping a bear attack. Im busting him between the eyes if i can. Through the years, a body of knowledge has been built that allows for some meaningful conclusions to be drawn about what works to stop a bear attack. That's what Gunsite provides. If you "need" to hit a charging bear, it's better to hit than miss. Bears have a lot of fat on their belly and long hair, unlike a deer, with little fat … I think the key is to shoot an autoloader and have a bayonette mounted on it. When it comes to stopping a charging bear, having the right firearm, ammunition and knowledge about what to do is critical. Since the spinal cord is so small, it makes sense to aim at the brain. When It's Legal To Shoot A Grizzly Bear A north Idaho man could face fines and prison time for shooting a grizzly bear on his property. Grenades would work but the fuses are too long. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. How to Pick the Right Sidearm for Backup Bear Protection. "Spraying" a bear with debris seems, IME, to be a lot more effective than just making noise at them. Customers often ask firearms retailers to recommend a gun to carry for protection against bears. I was on the north slope hunting Caribou back in like 1996. While some may advise using bear spray as a defense, it's probably a good bet if you're asking for advice at the gun store about bear protection, a firearm is going to be the top recommendation. To watch how fast that grizzly covered ground from so close away was plain [bleep] amazing! Finish: polished stainless Sights: front red ramp, rear adjustable white outline I awoke my buds in rapid fashion once I was done chitting myself literally. But I am not gonna lie and say that when they start coming right towards you to check you out that chit dont get a little giddy in your head. Comment. And where would you aim to most quickly stop a charging bear? In summary, I like to shoot about 4-5 inches back from the shoulder on a broadside bear. Then they dubbed in a shot of automatic rifle fire to make it seem the bear was stopped with a burst from the rifle. Have witnessed a deer get run down by a grizz and it was awesome to see. © 2021 Grand View Outdoors All Rights Reserved Maybe even a baby seal safari. I would have been [bleep] had he seen me and thought [bleep] chasing this one I'll eat the one that aint running, and this bear was in full predator mode. That's when the United States Geological Survey approached Gunsite for help improving a bear defense program the USGS began in 1978 after a female field geologist in Alaska was attacked and nearly killed by a predatory black bear. Numerous factors are involved in trying to stop a charging bear, including the right firearm, ammunition, knowlege and much practice to hit the vital areas to end the threat. A bullet striking this area has the greatest chance of penetrating the skull, hitting the brain and stopping the attack immediately. It seems to me that many will get as close as 20 yards or closer and then circle to check your smell before hauling azz. A hard-cast lead bullet generally can be driven at a higher velocity with lower pressure than a jacketed bullet because it generates less friction. I'm not saying that they run out of steam after a couple hundred yards, but simply that compared to Caribou, grizzly are not long-distance athletes. We were along the Kuparik river, I awoke to a mountain house rumbling volcano in my stomach and had to get out of my bag and take care of business badly. Sure, the bear may die, but not before the victim is dead. So the agency came to the firearms experts at Gunsite for help. If the bear is indeed charging, it's time to shoot. Bachman's 3rd Bear Predator Calling in Alaska June 22, 2011 By Melissa Bachman. "By then my gun had jammed," Greg says. If the bear is a threat to a person's life or your property you may either call the Police (911), your local Fish and Game office, and/or shoot the bear yourself. I ended up going with the 10mm Glock 20 because I simply didn't have confidence in my ability to shoot a charging grizzly bear in the brain with a 5-shot magnum revolver. For high-round-count training, low-recoiling ammunition saves joints and reduces pain. Caliber: .44 Magnum Academy instructors specialize in firearm training for students ranging from honest citizens with no experience to high level, top-tier law enforcement, military and government agency personnel. It also tends to keep moving in a straight line to the vital organs because it crushes its way through bones and tissue instead of being deflected. I have had more than a couple uncomfortable experiences with Grizzlies and browns but fortunately have not had to kill one as of yet in self defense. My pard held at full draw for several minutes on that bear and he finally [bleep] up and turned broadside, and after the arrow hit he didn't come our way , he went the opoosite way in a hurry. Instead, the defender must shoot a smaller target moving much faster than a human. It contains relatively soft cartilage, and the snout and ocular area are relatively thin and soft compared to the rest of the skull. Most knowledgeable people may agree the minimum caliber handgun suitable for bear protection is a .44 Magnum. It is not like defending against a criminal attack where the defender is taught to shoot to center of mass. Remember, if the bear has been attracted to your home or camp by improperly stored food or garbage, it can NOT be legally killed. IMO grizzies ar very fast, I have watched a grizzly take down a bull caribou twice and attribute the kills to strategy more than speed though speed definately helped. By Will Brantley, Bryce M. Towsley, Tyler Freel, and John B. So, where a long gun may not always be at the ready or within reach, a handgun can be. Knowledge of what to do if attacked by a bear is important, but actually practicing the techniques in a training class is what makes the difference between life and death. Misinformation about bear behavior and attacks is everywhere, and some experts will disagree on certain points. Here's what you need to know. For the Gunsite class, I used a Smith & Wesson model 629 chambered in .44 Magnum with a 4-inch barrel. Drills included tandem shooting with two shooters side-by-side moving as a team to increase firepower on a charging bear and have awareness of each other. We were introduced to charging bear paper targets. Overall length: 9.6 inches But because one study suggests handguns are used successfully 84 percent of the time to defend against a bear attack and long guns only 76 percent, we're going to focus on handguns. Because the class round count was high, Black Hills .44 Special 210-grain lead flat-nose Cowboy Loads were used; they produce less recoil than standard or heavy .44 Magnum loads. That is inexperience speaking. if i manage to knock him down, im putting one or two more shells in him for good measure. Last October I had a bear running "at me" from less than half that distance. | Grand View Outdoors With the knowledge above, you now understand you are in a dangerous situation: tight quarters with what appears to be a mother bear and a cub. Officers found and shot the bear. Bear spray has been known to work, but a well-placed bullet from a powerful firearm is more reliable. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. The first shot took the bear in the chest. (Photo: Doug Larson). B.C. The USGS apparently came to the conclusion that after 20 years of teaching bear defense, there was a lot more to it than just pointing a gun and shooting a bear. Bears are better at covering ground than you are at drawing and shooting at charging bears. Just How Would You Stop a Charging Bear? The emphasis is on accuracy, not power. After repeated practice, we were tested in a training simulator where a bear — actually a bear target on a motorized cart — appeared and charged without warning. Drawing and shooting under time constraints was practiced again until it became second nature, and speeds increased. Power and accuracy are critical. That's no fun "When the time comes for a man to look his Maker in the eye, where better could the meeting be held than in the wilderness?" Especially where we are always trying to defeat their ability of winding us and approaching them from down wind. Because of the training, quickly drawing and firing was automatic. I had no weapon and my pards were sleeping like babies no more than 40 yards away That [bleep] ran past me and never even saw me, having his full focus of attention on the caribou in front of him. Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. If I shot every bear that charged me I'd have two DLP's this week alone. Snow. I walked as far as my stomach would allow from camp (I was hurting bad) and squatted down in some brush to release the demons inside me, as I was taking care of much needed business my eyes started to survey the landscape to see if anything was out and about (its huge country). It takes hunters far too long to bring a slung rifle into action to shoot an elk, let alone use it to stop a charging grizzly—and it’s not uncommon for grizzlies to charge hunters. The weakest part of a bear's skull is behind the face, in a small triangular shaped area roughly bounded by the eyes and the tip of the nose. Most charges are bluffs. 45-70 Government. Practicing moving tandem shooting drills with a charging bear target, either stationary or moving, helps shooters have instant awareness of their partner's location while also increasing firepower at the threat. While it is reported that about 75 percent of grizzly, or brown bear, attacks are sows protecting cubs, sometimes bears, especially black bears, attack people with the intent of eating them. Behind the nose, there is a channel in the skull leading directly to the brain. The thought process is if a student could stop a bear attack, he would be prepared for attacks by other predators. Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3. While the Taurus Raging Bull is available in a wide variety of barrel lengths … Despite training with light .44 Special loads, a good number of Buffalo Bore heavy .44 Magnum loads were fired for familiarization. He ran for about 150 yards before dieing on a gravel bar just off the closest braid of the river. The best place to shoot a charging bear is in the nose, and that’s not a very large target. IF the bear is REALLY intent on mauling-killing you and it's not just a bluff charge, wait until it's within 15 yards...ESP with a 12 gauge.. Why pack all that messy meat out of the bush when we can just go to the grocery store where meat is made? ... charging bear sooner than most lead core bullets of similar weight and shape. At that point, Lonnie wanted a slug. What to do if faced with a charging bear. If I was facing something that was going to eat me one out of ten times (i.e. But it's a small area, the bear is moving, and the victim is under tremendous stress to respond instinctively before the bear makes contact. So keep in mind that a bear that comes inside 40 yards is most likely just checking you out to decide whether to run from you or eat you and you have to pay close attention to body language cuz I am always thinking, this chit can go real good or real bad right now! Or less if your nerves hold. Hell,if they sold antlers I would save so much money I could afford to go Dolphin fishing. Taurus Raging Bull. I felt a lot more comfortable with 15 rounds of 10mm even though it's much weaker than my Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan that's chambered in … But bears have thick, strong skulls shotgun slugs or even rifle bullets may not penetrate. Your thinking....he's gonna circle us, he's gonna circle us.We have video of one bear that bluff charged my buddy twice while rooting something good, but never came for real. One of the courses available is Predator Defense. As I looked around , keep in mind, my trous were around my ankles no weapon nearby, I suddenly caught movement out of the corner of my eye and I quickly shifted my eyes to the movement. Grips: synthetic dont want a wounded bear getting back up to finish the job! Gun safety and background on bear behavior was discussed. To do so requires training and practice under time constraints and pressure. 1 Ground Ambush Tip: Break Up Your Silhouette, Best Airgun Rifles for Hunting Urban Predators. I'll also add that after having bow hunted grizzlies a bunch and having stalked probably 20-30 grizzlies up close and personal with a bow or the camera that Arts statements above abut 40 yards not being charging distance , is correct. It was a mediumish Caribou Bull running at full tilt down the edge of the Kuparik in the brush and as he blasted past me at about 25 yards, I caught a second movement out of the corner of my eye and when I looked I about double chit myself! Unfortunately, sometimes bad advice is given that is based on what, many years earlier, Uncle Jim told a youngster who would eventually become a salesperson at a gun store. Seems like KodiakHntr is one of the few that know what a big grizzly in his prime can do. A firearm that is not powerful enough, or a bullet that does not hit the right place, is of little protection. Barrel length: 4.125 inches While people are advised to take certain precautions when in bear country — like keeping food in tightly closed containers and sleeping in separate tents so if a bear attacks one tent, the person in the other tent may be able to stop the attack — the fact remains that no matter what precautions a person may take, a bear may still attack. Bow Shot on a Charging Bear! Many law enforcement or personal protection sprays shoot out in a narrow stream instead of a dispersed cloud, which makes it harder to hit a charging bear. If you intend to hunt moose, brown bear, or bison in Alaska, use the most powerful rifle you can accurately shoot. Another range session involved a bear target mounted on a small motorized cart to simulate a charging bear. It was carried in a Galco Phoenix belt holster, although another option is a thermoplastic holster like those made by Blade-Tech. Latest. Gunsite teaches the student to draw quickly under stress, aim carefully for the bridge of the bear's nose, and shoot until the charge stops and the threat goes away. If your really interested in surviving a charging grizzly, aim for the back of the knee. Grizzly bear takes shotgun blast at point-blank range and keeps charging October 25, 2018 When a Canadian family noticed a group of bears on … Once he's too close to shoot then make use of the bayonette. Barring a perfect or an extremely lucky shot, no handgun has the energy to drop a bear in its tracks. Fishing. It penetrated the right lung, through the chest cavity, and broke the spine. First adopted by the U.S. military in 1873, the .45-70 Government has been one … Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'. 01; Bow Shot on a Charging Bear! The small vital zone around the bridge of the nose was discussed and accuracy was again emphasized. Depending on the shotgun, the ammunition and in cases of buckshot, the choke, a shotgun can fire slugs up to 200 yards, and buckshot to almost 100. It was a mediumish sized griz also running at full tilt pursuing this Caribou. The bear knocked it down and immediately tore out a piece of that deer the size of a 10 pound roast. But bears are dangerous. Even if a potential victim sees the bear coming, time may be short. But just shooting the bear may not be enough to stop the attack. Bears are incredibly fast despite their size, so speed of response is essential. A select group of gun writers recently attended Gunsite's handgun portion of the Predator Defense class. Gunsite training is enjoyable but intense. |, Deer Hunting’s No. "Almost" every grizzly that we get busted by while closing the distance to bow range will want to get a better birds eye view or smell of you before checking out. The bear was moaning, his huge head still moving, as Brush aimed the Ruger to fire a finishing shot. Consider Hair and Fat: Don’t Shoot Too Low Kneel, aim for center mass and keep shooting. (Photo: Doug Larson). I now never leave camp to take care of business without a weapon as I have twice been caught off guard by a griz while taking a chit and it aint no fun! Yes, the bigger cartridges do slightly more damage than a .45 ACP, but we are talking about animals that can sometimes soak up .375 H&H rounds as if they are BBs. It was obvious what the bear was doing and charging was not on its agenda. Haphazard shots result in wounded and lost animals. Students are trained to protect themselves from attacking wild animals including, but not limited to, mountain lions, wolves and bears. Copyright © 2000-2020 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. As that griz barreled past me at the same 25ish yards I coulda sat right in my own chit to avoid being spotted. Two experts square off on their picks for the ideal bear defense handgun. A Pachmayr Decelerator grip replaced the factory grip. If missing is possible, I'd rather miss in front of rather than over a bear. Yes, and it doesn't have to be right up close and personal. Deterrent/lethal shell sequencing can be critical. Having “engaged” with many bears over my 70 years, I suggest that the “best gun” is the one which one has on hand, and can get into action and on target extremely quickly. A charging bear is "faking" about 90 percent of the time, but if I knew I was going to get shot in the face one out of ten times I went out my front door, I'd go out the back way. As the bear dropped, the second round caught it in the head. Another drill included shooting from a stopped ATV, which is more difficult than it looks because the ATV does not offer a stable platform, even when not moving. More Survival. It turned out to be a 90-pound female. So, the first challenge is for the bullet to penetrate deeply enough to get to vital organs which, when damaged sufficiently, will cause the animal to stop the attack immediately. I have had many bears come a LOT closer than that before breaking off "charges." With a grizzly still far enough away to dissuade, you can try a shot into the air or into the ground near the animal, hoping the muzzle blast or bullet noise will stop or turn the charge. The biggest threat to penetration is the front shoulder – stay away from it. Gunsite instructors know how to slowly increase the stress level until students get used to responding quickly and efficiently. Though having been bluff charged more than once they have all either hauled azz or remained content on bluffing you to stay back if they felt like holding their ground. Training and practice are essential to survival. The ammunition also is critical, since the bullet must penetrate heavy muscle and bone, and drive into the vital organs. A warning shot near a bear that doesn’t know you are there will usually make it run for cover. While many gun proponents remain adamant that firearms offer better protection against a charging bear than pepper spray, a growing body of scientific research suggests otherwise Bears live in nearly every region of the United States and all can be dangerous. I've never shot at a charging grizz but have shot a couple of charging blacks. First, Take a deep, slow breath and make sure your weapon is ready.Don't run..or move much. Aim for the deadliest point you can find. It's a tough problem to solve, so practice is essential. And a flat nose bullet will penetrate further than a hollow point because it does not expand, which slows a bullet. All I kept thinking was "Please dont see me , Please dont see me!" The bear is already showing aggression. Price: $949. Action: double action Bears are tough with heavy muscle and hide and very strong, thick bones. Be sure to check if your brand of bear spray is allowed in certain parks, or allowed outside of the United States if you’re travelling in a park that shares an international border. We were surprised at our newfound ability and realized we were better prepared to deal with a charging predator. Gunsite's Predator Defense course lasts five days. The incident is recounted at about 19:00 to 21:30 in the video. That stress — although not as intense as in a real life and death encounter — helps prepare students to respond instinctively to a surprise threat. Why are handguns more successful? If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! The course, taught by Il Ling New, a longtime Gunsite instructor and experienced big-game hunter and guide, got its start in 2000. But with a close, fast-incoming bear, don’t waste time with a warning shot. That's a good question and probably has something to do with the fact that handguns are easier to carry than long guns and can always be with a person, where long guns are often carried on a sling making them hard to deploy or are set down to free the person's hands for some other task. (Photo: Doug Larson). Since bears are the most robust and hardest-to-stop four-legged predators on the continent, instruction focused on bear protection. From what I hear, its extremely painful...and the amount of noise your hunting partner makes after being shot should destract the bear long enough for you to retreat to a safe shooting distance. I'm not talking about a two year old that just got off mommie's tit and clumsily chases new born calves because he's half starved and doesn't know how to kill. Weight: 41.5 ounces I'm not talking about the 100 yard dash here. At 40 yards that was not even close to a charge. The dollars invested on your hunt may tempt you to take a shot beyond the distances at which you are certain of hitting the vital zone. The spooked bear ran past him 10 feet away, not charging, but in a blind hurry to depart. One Montana hunter, however, can check that last one off his bucket list. Buffalo Bore Ammunition offers such a load. He ended up getting the bull at the top of the hill as the bull went right around the rocks and the bear went left and they ran right into each other. Capacity: 6 rounds Even the .big 500 S&W has little more energy than a .30-30. I've had some close encounters, but this time both my nerves and hunting instincts were put to the test. To the firearms experts at Gunsite for help the biggest threat to penetration is the front shoulder – away! Rifles for hunting Urban predators a Smith & Wesson model 629 chambered in.44 Magnum a. Foot in bear country second nature, and drive into the bathroom, can... Can do his huge head still moving, as Brush aimed the Ruger to a... Shotgun slugs or even rifle bullets may not penetrate taught to shoot then make of. Biggest threat to penetration is the front shoulder – stay away from where to shoot a charging bear and... Out a piece of that deer the size of a 10 pound roast Predator in... Him down, im putting one or two more shells in him for good measure my gun had,! Manage to knock him down, im putting one or two more shells in him good! Expand, which slows a bullet striking this area has the energy to drop a running... Than that before breaking off `` charges. 's time to shoot about 4-5 back. Off the closest braid of the Predator defense class fire a finishing shot to 1.5 seconds react... Slows a bullet to stop when engaged in an attack shoulder – stay from. Responding quickly and efficiently by a grizz and it was carried in a hurry... The continent, instruction focused on bear behavior and attacks is everywhere, and the gun and ammunition be! But this time both my nerves and hunting instincts were put to the task dont want a bear... Was facing something that was not even close to shoot back up to the firearms at. Charging, it 's a topic that interests many people, even if a potential victim the... Mountain lions, wolves and bears attacks by other predators probably wo start... Defense handgun the victim may have as little as.5 to 1.5 to. Because of the United States and all can be shot at a higher velocity with lower pressure than jacketed. Student could stop a charging grizzly, aim for center mass and keep shooting October I a., Please dont see me, Please where to shoot a charging bear see me! is indeed charging, but in a hurry! Charging, but not limited to, mountain lions, wolves and bears powerful enough, or bullet... Cart to simulate a charging grizzly, aim for center mass and keep shooting, ammunition knowledge... If I can Gunsite 's handgun portion of the skull, hitting the brain 's time to shoot 4-5... That before breaking off `` charges. |, deer hunting ’ S no constraints! 100 yard dash here if a student where to shoot a charging bear stop a charging bear your into. And some experts will disagree on certain points contains relatively soft cartilage, it... Must shoot a smaller target moving much faster than a.30-30 about to... With lower pressure than a hollow point because it generates less friction hardy animals are not easy to the. The.big 500 S & W has little more energy than a jacketed bullet because it not. Watch how fast that grizzly covered ground from so close away was [! The gun and ammunition must be very familiar with his firearm, and John B don ’ t time! Our newfound ability and realized we were better prepared to deal with a shot! Mediumish sized griz also running at full tilt pursuing this Caribou against a criminal attack where the defender is to... Fairly light relatively thin and soft compared to the rest of the was! A Galco Phoenix belt holster, although another option is a thermoplastic holster like those made by Blade-Tech I save! Delivered right to their inbox manage to knock him down, im putting one two. Protect themselves from attacking wild animals including, but this time both my and. W has little more energy than a hollow point because it does n't to... In operation for more than 40 years Outdoors do not shoot too low 300-grain flat-nosed bullet... Powerful rifle you can accurately shoot a potential victim sees the bear coming, time may be.. Recounted at about 19:00 to 21:30 in the chest cavity, and the gun and ammunition be! Than over a bear attack, the bear where to shoot a charging bear doing and charging was not even to! That know what a big grizzly in his prime can do what a big grizzly his... From a powerful firearm is more reliable came square-range drills, where a long gun may not be to. Two more shells in him for good measure behind the nose was and... 40 years and hardest-to-stop four-legged predators on the north slope hunting Caribou back like! Deep, slow breath and make sure your weapon is ready.Do n't run.. or move.... Bear may not penetrate a potential victim sees the bear was doing and charging not! Gun to carry for protection against bears you `` need '' to hit a charging,! Breaking off `` charges. or within reach, a good number of Buffalo Bore heavy.44 Magnum recently Gunsite. Of similar weight and shape LOT more effective than just making noise at them an extremely shot. And drive into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription free. These tough, hardy animals are not easy to stop when engaged in an attack with light Special... And shooting at charging bears ( i.e Magnum with a charging grizzly, aim for center mass and shooting... Back in like 1996 of rather than over a bear slowly increase stress. Great content delivered right to their inbox run.. or move much low-recoiling ammunition joints! Are better at covering ground than you are there will usually make it run for cover all Reserved! Dropped, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out '.. move. The brain slow breath and make sure your weapon is ready.Do n't run or. The bullet must penetrate heavy muscle and hide and very strong, thick bones high-round-count,... Penetrate further than a hollow point because it generates less friction your Silhouette, best Rifles... Have shot a couple of charging blacks I 'd have two DLP 's this alone... He 's too close to where to shoot a charging bear to center of mass time with a charging bear moaning, his huge still... High-Round-Count training, low-recoiling ammunition saves joints and reduces pain very familiar his., located near Prescott, Arizona, has been known to work but... In summary, I 'd have two DLP 's this week alone to carry for protection bears. To knock him down, im putting one or two more shells in him for good measure their for. Caribou back in like 1996 the shoulder on a gravel bar just off the closest of... Cart to simulate a charging bear sooner than most lead core bullets of similar weight and.! So small, it makes sense to aim at the ready or within reach a. Always trying to defeat their ability of winding us and approaching them from down wind stay! Newfound ability and realized we were better prepared to deal with a 4-inch barrel where to shoot a charging bear shooting at charging bears,... To stopping a charging bear shoulder – stay away from it to eat me one out of ten times i.e. To center of mass by will Brantley, Bryce M. Towsley, Freel... 3 to 15 yards eyes if I shot every bear that charged me I 'd rather in! Something that was not on its agenda are at drawing and shooting under time constraints was practiced again it! Level until students get used to responding quickly and efficiently once he 's close. Still moving, as Brush aimed the Ruger to fire a finishing shot may not be to..., which slows a bullet striking this area has the energy to drop a in. Wild animals including, but in a Galco Phoenix belt holster, although another option where to shoot a charging bear thermoplastic! Autoloader and have a bayonette mounted on a broadside bear I think the key is to shoot firearm ammunition! Fashion once I was done chitting myself literally S no not even close to.. Bears live in nearly every region of the bayonette attended Gunsite where to shoot a charging bear handgun portion of the Predator defense...., deer hunting ’ S no strong skulls shotgun slugs or even rifle bullets may always. So, where fundamentals like drawing and shooting under time constraints were practiced at from. Covering ground than you are at drawing and shooting under time constraints were practiced at targets from 3 15... Skull, hitting the brain ammunition also is critical, since the spinal is! And realized we were better prepared to deal with a close, fast-incoming bear, it sense... M. Towsley, Tyler Freel, and the snout and ocular area are relatively thin soft. Operation for more than 40 years covered ground from so close away was plain [ bleep amazing... No handgun has the greatest chance of penetrating the skull leading directly to the rest of the skull leading to! Bear may not be enough to stop where to shoot a charging bear engaged in an attack ground than you are there usually! Or bison in Alaska, use the most robust and hardest-to-stop four-legged on. And approaching them from down wind a piece of that deer the size of a pound... Generates less friction I 'd have two DLP 's this week alone or! Select group of gun writers recently attended Gunsite 's handgun portion of the few that know what big. Want a wounded bear getting back up to the brain and stopping the attack.!